As winter tumbles into spring, the FMC revs into high gear with planning
for our upcoming Policy Summit – our signature event – and
the launch of a new research project. This week, FMC board members Jenny
Toomey and Walter McDonough will also be heading down to South by Southwest
to moderate some panels and enjoy some music, so make sure you say hello!
Here we go:
Today a "Joint
Statement on Current Issues in Radio" was delivered to the Federal
Communications Commission and congressional leaders by four organizations:
the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA); American
Federation of Musicians (AFM); the Future of Music Coalition (FMC); and
the Recording Artists’ Coalition (RAC). read more
FMC’s Kristin Thomson sits down with Kevin Arnold of IODA – the Independent Online Distribution Alliance – a digital distributor for the 21st century looking to help independent labels and bands make their music available for sale through the various and ever-expanding field of digital music stores. read more
June turned out to be quite a busy and productive month for FMC, with
continued work on media ownership issues, a trip out to Apple’s
campus for an iTunes seminar, and an important settlement in the webcasting
world. We get down to details below.
An “FMC Classic” article from June 2003 that summarizes the benefits and challenges of the iTunes Music Store when it was first launched and made available for independent labels and artists. read more
In the words of Phil Collins: "I can feel it coming in the air tonight…Hold On!"
Or better stated, in the words of Patti Smith: "The
people have the power."
A good friend of FMC — John Nichols — once said, “The
civil rights movement didn’t start in the 60s.” In other words,
there were good people in America fighting segregation and racism for
years and years and years before they finally reached the historic moment
when a national movement came together and change was possible. This change
didn’t happen by accident. It was the cumulative result of years of preparation,
education and organizing which finally came to full flower as a bus boycott
that captured the imagination of a country.
Good afternoon. I’d like to thank Representative Conyers
for convening this important discussion. I’d also like to thank Wayne
State University for hosting us, Karen Morgan, and everyone responsible
for organizing the event. read more
Spring has finally sprung on the East Coast. With Congress
back in session this week, the FMC crew is ramping up for a busy month
as we approach the June 2 deadline on the media ownership rules. Plus,
lots of news on the digital distribution front. Read on!
Good afternoon. Thank you very much for giving me some time to speak
to you. I want to lend my apologies to those of you who were expecting
T Bone Burnett. I am the minor star substitute in his place. My name is
Tift Merritt and I am a recording artist. You probably haven’t heard
of me because I’m not on your radio. That being the case I need to
give you a little background. I am on Lost Highway records, home also
of Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson. My debut record, “Bramble Rose”
was released last June. Time Magazine named it the #6 best record of 2002;
Billboard called me a “major new artist". CMT, the national
country music network, regularly played my video.